All About Your Child

Keatkeat was very disappointed yesterday, 26th May, when he found out that he had missed the boat rides, the tank rides, the flying fox, the mountain climbing, etc. With all his might, he persuaded us to bring him to the Army Open House @ Our City again today.

With all eagerness, he relentlessly asked for our consent and waited for our heads to nod from last night till this morning! The last time I saw him with such enthusiasm was when he tried his best to make my MIL and BIL agree to let my nieces have their first sleepover at my place.

To reward his amazing effort, we agreed. However, as on all Sundays, it is in-laws’ day for us. So we went for an early lunch at my in-law’s place and wanted to set off right after the meal.

In the end, all three kids over there wanted to go along too! My car could not fit in so many butts, so my SIL suggested a car swop with my BIL’s 7 seater. *thumb up*

3 adults (Allan, SIL and I) and 5 kids went. We did not wait for my eldest niece to arrive with my 2nd SIL and 2nd BIL because we did not want Keatkeat to miss anything again, we wanted to be there early.

***Too many photos to post, all are great memories. So I decided put majority of the photos on slides.

I was just as eager to do all of that which Keatkeat and Binbin was looking forward to, but was GREATLY upset when I could not meet the basic requirement : wear covered shoes!!!

*scream* So sad!!!

So SIL brought the 5 kids for tanker ride while I looked at them with my envy eyes….

Other than wearing covered shoes, it is also a must to be at least 10 years old for anyone who wants to try the flying fox and the rock climbing. *humph*
So the only ones who could enjoy these activities were my SIL and my elder niece, but none of them want to try!!! Aaawww….what a waste~!

Hence we moved on to the boat ride, something less adventurous. And once again, Allan, my nephew and I could not participate because we did not meet their basic requirement (see picture below).

Thank goodness SIL was there with her track shoes on, otherwise Keatkeat and Binbin would be so disappointed again.

***Thank you SIL for taking photos of the kids in the tanker and the boat ride.

While they were cruising, Allan and I became the ‘parent‘ of one young child once again, who is easily satisfied with simple activities. *wink*

We brought the Kindergarten 1, who is obsessed with guns, to the demo show. It was great for me to watch it again because I missed the Red Lions during yesterday’s show, due to bad weather. Read yesterday’s post: “Army Open House @ Our City 2012”

Next stop: the bouncy-basketball-game….

and since he is so obsessed with guns, we thought it would be a PERFECT opportunity for him to get his hands on REAL GUNS!

After Keatkeat and Binbin had done what they came back (to Army Open House @ Our City 2012) for, the 5 kids were finally reunited again for more fun.

Other things they did on Day 2 at the Army Open House, include wearing a gas mask, sitting on a police bike, holding a real bomb, doing CPR, playing with ‘electricity‘ and playing at bouncy castle too.

What a day!
Keatkeat and Binbin thinks that BOTH days were just as fun!
This 2nd trip to the Army Open House 2012 was definitely worth it!
*clap clap clap*

Army Open House @ Our City 2012 Day 2

How often do we complain about our children?

How often do we focus on their flaws instead of their awes?

How often do we remember their little mistakes and forget their moments of serendipity?

This mother tackled all the above with one simple message on a video.

She touched my heart so deeply, I see no reason why I should not share on my blog to keep me inspired in my parenting journey.

A mother of a blind baby boy inspiring millions, I hope she inspires you too….

Mother’s Inspiring Video About Her Blind Baby Boy :~

Here’s a recap of her simple message that is so POWERFUL to all Mothers…… and Fathers too.

“When I was 15 I met Chris and we fell in love.
Chris + I got married when I was 21.
When I was 23, we found out that we were going to have a baby.
We were SO excited!!!
At my 18 week ultrasound, we found out we were having a BOY!!
We were even MORE excited!!
We named him Christian :)

A week later, we got a phone call. Something was wrong with Christian.
We were crushed.
As Christian grew, doctors became more and more unsure.
What was wrong?
Would he live?
Would he be mentally impaired?

On February 18th, 2011
Chris and I went to Vanderbilt to deliver Christian.
We didn’t know if we would come home with Christian or not.

At 9:32am
Christian came into the world…
Screaming!

He was ALIVE!!!

But it wasn’t that simple…
Christian’s condition was MUCH worse than we originally thought.

He was born with a Tessier cleft lip + palate.
He couldn’t even close his mouth.
His condition is only 1 of 50 in the entire world.

But it got worse…
Christian’s eyes were also clefted.
They just didn’t form.
They just weren’t there.

Our baby boy was blind.
We were heartbroken.

We didn’t know what to do,
or how to raise a child who couldn’t see.

Christian had surgery at 4 days old,
and stayed in the NICU for 4 weeks.

When we brought him home from the hospital,
things were hard.
Anytime we took Christian out in public…
People would stare…
and whisper behind my back “Look at that baby”
Kids would ask their mom what was wrong with “that baby.”

I couldn’t go anywhere without someone doing something to point out Christian.

Some people would even ask me “What’s wrong with your kid?”
One girl even told me I was a horrible person for not aborting Christian in utero.

I was miserable :(

But as Christian got older,
he started laughing and playing.
And when people would stare,
Christian would start giggling…
And they would giggle too.

People started finding me on Facebook…
or recognizing Christian from hearing about him.
And so we made a TON of new friends.

People started telling me how Christian inspired them.
And how beautiful he is.
And things got a little easier.

And Christian is growing and Healthy!!
And anyone who meets Christian falls in love with him pretty quickly.
Those judgmental glances + whispers don’t really bother me anymore.
Because I know Christian is beautiful…
Inside + Out

I also know that I did the right thing by not aborting Christian.
He is the love of my life!
And he is a Miracle!”

A Mother of a Blind Baby Boy Inspiring Millions